SAN FRANCISCO, CA – In a major ruling that highlights growing concern over digital privacy, a U.S. federal jury has ordered Google to pay $425 million in damages after it was found guilty of violating the privacy of millions of users. The verdict follows a class-action lawsuit that accused the tech giant of collecting personal data for nearly a decade—even after users had turned off specific tracking features.
The decision, handed down by a jury in the U.S. District Court for Northern California, covers approximately 98 million users and 174 million devices, making it one of the most significant privacy-related judgments against a major tech company in recent years.
Key Allegations in the Case
At the heart of the lawsuit were claims that Google misled users by continuing to collect data from mobile devices and third-party applications—even when users had disabled the “Web & App Activity” setting. This feature, according to Google’s own documentation, is designed to pause tracking of user interactions across various Google services and apps.
Despite turning off the setting, users' data was allegedly still being harvested from apps such as Uber, Instagram, and others, raising serious concerns about user consent and data transparency.
Jury Verdict and Damages
The jury found Google liable on two of the three counts related to privacy violations. However, they stopped short of awarding punitive damages, citing a lack of malicious intent on Google's part.
While the plaintiffs had originally sought over $31 billion in damages, the final award was $425 million still a substantial sum that sends a strong message to tech firms about the consequences of data privacy violations.
Google Responds, Plans Appeal
In response to the ruling, a Google spokesperson expressed disappointment and suggested the decision “misunderstands how our products work.” The company maintains that its privacy tools give users clear and meaningful control over how their data is used and insists that it complies with user choices.
“Our systems are designed with strong safeguards,” said the spokesperson. “The data in question was non-personal, pseudonymous, and stored securely in encrypted, segregated locations.”
Google’s legal team has already announced plans to appeal the decision, setting the stage for a potentially prolonged legal battle.
Global Context: Privacy Scrutiny Intensifies
The ruling comes amid a wider global crackdown on tech companies over data collection practices. In a separate case earlier this year, France’s data protection authority, the CNIL, fined Google €325 million (approx. $378 million USD) for using advertising cookies on Gmail without user consent—another sign that regulators and courts are taking a harder line on digital privacy.
Industry analysts see this latest verdict as a milestone in data privacy enforcement, adding to a growing list of legal challenges faced by major tech platforms in both the U.S. and Europe.
What This Means for Users and the Industry
This case adds momentum to the global push for greater transparency and accountability in how companies manage user data. Privacy advocates argue that this verdict could pave the way for more class-action lawsuits against tech firms that fail to uphold user privacy preferences.
As public awareness grows and regulatory frameworks strengthen, companies will increasingly need to prove that their data practices are not only technically compliant but also ethically sound and user-friendly.
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